As the start to another season came along, the Gibson Southern girls volleyball team came back with a new coach to help improve the program.
“Our new volleyball coach is so different from any other volleyball coach I’ve ever had, in the best way possible,” senior volleyball player Lauryn Adamson said. “I’ve improved in every part of the game because of her.”
The Titans are able to field three different volleyball teams, and it is important that the coaching staff is there for them. There are many techniques and difficulties that players face when playing the game, and the coaches are the ones who help them succeed.
“I would say she is a passionate, guiding and motivated coach,” senior volleyball player Sidney Ridens said. “She really shows passion and cares how well we succeed, whether it’s during a game, practice or even outside of volleyball. She does that by guiding us well and teaching us new things every day. She is always motivated to keep pushing forward and she is always positive and makes this sport fun.”
Sabrina Yamashita, the head varsity volleyball coach, played volleyball when she was a college student. It was a fun and motivating sport for her, and she enjoyed it because of her team and how they pushed her to be her best.
“I played at Elmhurst College (outside of Chicago) and at USI as a setter and defensive specialist,” Yamashita said. “I loved playing in college because everyone was competitive and pushed to make everyone better.”
Some of the high school girls find Yamashita to be a role model because of how she played in college. She knows every spot on the volleyball court and how to teach it effectively.
“I feel like Sabrina makes practice efficient and takes special time on each position and teaches us how to fix or improve our spot,” Ridens said. “She also has experience with volleyball, so I feel like she actually knows what she is doing or talking about. It also helps that she brought in a coaching staff that is very knowledgeable on the game of volleyball.”
Learning the abilities of different teams on the Titan schedule has helped Yamashita and her girls improve.
“Our hardest rival so far has been Washington because we won the first two sets against them and then lost the next three because we let up too early,” Yamashita said. “It was an insightful game for us to realize we have to push through to the end, no matter what the score is.”
When the postseason comes along, nearly every team wants a win and to keep working to the State game. What it takes for that win is athletes pushing through the game and having a great coach to support them.
“I think we have a really good chance of making it out of [the] Sectional,” Ridens said. “Our coach is really good about helping us correct during a game, and teaching us how to push through.”
Yamashita loves to coach the high school girls volleyball team and hopes to do it for years to come. She loves their attitude and the community the team comes with.
“Coaching high school girls is great!” Yamashita said. “They all have a great spirit and a commitment to becoming better! I hope to stay at Gibson Southern for multiple seasons and become more involved with the community.”
The Gibson Southern Lady Titans have a record of 10-9. Their next home game is Tuesday, September 24 against the Tecumseh Lady Braves, and their next away game is Thursday, September 26 against the Lady Huskies at North High School.
